Founders' Friday - A Conversation With Susan Galvin

Welcome to the first instalment of my new series 'Founders' Friday'. In these articles I have given watch brand founders, CEOs, and designers a set of 15 questions that will give us an insight into their passion and processes.

I am delighted to kick the series off by chatting with Susan Galvin, founder and watchmaker at Galvin Watches. Susan currently lives in Australia but has been all over the world with her work in the watch industry. 

The first 10 questions will be more in-depth and then we'll finish off with a rapid fire of 5 short questions for fun. But, without further ado, let's hear from Susan about her journey in this wonderful industry.

When I was working as a watchmaker at Omega, we were allowed to choose a watch to wear as our daily work watch. I chose the Omega Speedmaster Sapphire Sandwich with the 1863 chronograph movement on a black leather strap with a deployant clasp. I absolutely loved that watch, so much so that I eventually decided to purchase it and take full ownership.

What drew me in was not only the design and the rich history of the Speedmaster, but also my hands on experience repairing many of them. Working so closely with the movement gave me a deep appreciation for its mechanics and craftsmanship, which strengthened my connection to the watch even further.

The Omega Speedmaster features twisted lugs on the case, and this design element has been a key inspiration behind the case design of the Loimu collection. I chose to incorporate twisted lugs into Loimu because they add a subtle sense of movement and sophistication to the watch, which pairs beautifully with the guilloché style dial.

I graduated from the Finnish School of Watchmaking in May 2010, and in June the same year I moved to the UK to begin my career with LVMH, working primarily on TAG Heuer repairs.

After several years in the UK, I applied for and was accepted into a transfer to LVMH Australia, relocating to Sydney in September 2013. I continued working with LVMH for a few more years before moving on to a role with Omega.

At the beginning of 2020, I was on parental leave caring for our newly born son when Omega underwent operational changes and most workshop operations were relocated to Melbourne. As a result, I lost my role, which was a particularly challenging time given it coincided with the start of the pandemic.

After the initial shock, I decided to turn the situation into an opportunity and finally pursue my long held dream of designing my own watches. In August 2020, I launched my first design through crowdfunding (ALKU, Finnish for “beginning”), and Galvin Watch Company was officially born.

I clearly remember it. It was during the crowdfunding campaign campaign for Alku. The campaign was overwhelmingly successful raising over $120,000 AUD.

After the campaign, I placed my first stock order, transitioned the company structure to a Pty Ltd, and launched the website. That was the moment it clicked for me. I realised this was no longer just an idea or a passion project. The company was established, and I had built a solid foundation for a real business.

As a graduate of the Finnish School of Watchmaking, there has always been a deep appreciation for Kari Voutilainen and his work. His craftsmanship, sophisticated design language, and the way he has built an incredibly successful career while remaining true to traditional watchmaking are things I greatly respect and admire.

Within the microbrand space, which is still relatively small but growing, I have also been fortunate to receive a great deal of support and encouragement from fellow founders. Designers and brand owners such as Peter Sargison of Second Hour Watches, Ivan from Vario, and Dave and Sidd from Ocean to Orbit have all been inspiring, not only through their designs but through their generosity and willingness to support others in the community.

One of the most unexpected lessons was just how much coordination and patience true watch manufacturing requires. Even with a clear design vision, every component comes from a different specialist, often in different countries, and the smallest delay or tolerance change can affect the entire production timeline.

I also learned that manufacturing is as much about problem solving as it is about craftsmanship. No matter how well planned a design is, there are always unforeseen challenges, and success depends on being adaptable, communicating clearly with suppliers, and being willing to refine details again and again until everything works in harmony.

Wearability is everything. A watch can look beautiful, but if it doesn't feel right on the wrist, the connection is lost immediately.

When designing the Suvi collection, the biggest challenge was the case design. The case ended up slightly larger than I had initially anticipated, but it couldn’t be made smaller due to the size of the automatic movement I wanted to use. To solve this, I designed a curved caseback, which dramatically improved comfort and made the watch sit naturally on the wrist, regardless of its dimensions.

Of course, there are other elements that contribute to that “right” feeling. I love working with colour, and the vibrancy of my dials often draws people in emotionally. That balance between comfort, proportion, and visual impact is what makes a watch feel right the moment you put it on.

A new design almost always begins with a story or a feeling rather than a technical brief. I’m heavily inspired by my Finnish heritage, nature, seasons, and moments in life, and I usually start by translating those emotions into colours, textures, and mood.

Once that narrative is clear, I move into sketches and proportions, thinking about how the watch should feel on the wrist before refining the technical details. From there, the design evolves through constant adjustment, balancing aesthetics, wearability, and practicality until everything feels cohesive.

One detail people might not immediately notice is the amount of consideration that goes into proportions and ergonomics. Small choices like the curvature of the caseback, lug geometry, and how the watch sits on the wrist are things I’m particularly proud of, even though they’re not always obvious at first glance.

I’m also very intentional about colour balance and finishing. Subtle changes in dial texture, lume application, or surface finishing can completely change how a watch feels in different light. Those quiet details, which often go unnoticed, are what make the watch feel considered, comfortable, and cohesive over time.

The biggest challenge has been wearing so many hats at once. Growing a brand while also being responsible for design, assembly, quality control, logistics, and customer communication requires constant balance. Time becomes the most limited resource.

At the same time, scaling without compromising quality has been a continual challenge. I’m very hands on with every watch, so finding ways to grow while staying true to the level of craftsmanship and personal involvement I value has required careful, deliberate decisions.

What excites me most is the growing appreciation for independent watchmaking and smaller, story driven brands. Collectors are becoming more curious and informed, and there’s a genuine shift towards valuing authenticity, craftsmanship, and personal connection over mass production.

I’m also excited by how the industry is becoming more diverse, both in terms of design voices and the people behind the brands. That openness creates space for experimentation, individuality, and new narratives, which ultimately keeps watchmaking relevant, creative, and alive.

Voutilainen and Sarpaneva. Both Finnish, both incredibly talented artists with a strong and recognisable design language.

Makia. A Finnish clothing brand that started small and grew into a respected, well established name while staying true to its roots.

Mechanical. With my background as a watchmaker, I’ll always lean that way. That said, never say never, I may explore battery powered watches in the future.

Moonphase. I find them endlessly fascinating.

Take your time. Quality, consistency, and reputation matter far more than speed.